The Vikings’ Best-Case Scenario Draft, Broken Down by Round

TL;DR

The Vikings' draft strategy emphasizes selecting the best player available in the first three rounds, avoiding quarterbacks if a franchise QB is present. In later rounds, the focus shifts to addressing team needs unless a highly graded player is available.

Key points

Vikings draft best player available in first three rounds
Avoid drafting quarterbacks if franchise QB is present
Tommy Kramer was drafted in 1977 despite Fran Tarkenton
Focus on team needs in later draft rounds
Select superior graded players over needs if available

Mentioned in this story

Tommy KramerFran Tarkenton

Clark Wade/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

My draft philosophy as a GM was always to take the best player available, regardless of position, in the first three rounds, with the exception that we would not draft a quarterback if we already had a franchise QB on the team (unless we had a QB in his mid-to-late 30s).

That was the case when the Vikings picked Tommy Kramer in the 1977 first round despite having Fran Tarkenton coming off his ninth Pro Bowl season, in which we were a Super Bowl team, but Tarkenton was 37 years old at that juncture.

In the fourth through seventh rounds, I planned to fortify positions of need unless there was a player with a superior grade at a position we didn’t consider a need.

How the Board Could Fall for Minnesota by Round

For this week’s exercise, let’s assume the Vikings go into each round of next week’s draft with two players graded equally, with one of them at a position of current need and the other not.

Here’s how I would have it play out in this scenario as a best-case result based on need:

Round 1: Safety

While I think center is the Vikings’ biggest need, it appears there won’t be a center rated high enough to take at No. 18 overall in the first round, so a second-round center is the more likely path for the Vikings.

Brian Flores needs an athletic, astute young safety to become an immediate starter. I believe the team wants Harrison Smith to return for at least one more year after he finished strongly last season.

A first-round safety should start alongside Smith (if he returns) and Josh Metellus and ahead of Metellus — who is limited in coverage — if the Vikings go with two starting safeties. Theo Jackson should not be a starter in this defense as his tackling and coverage skills are lacking.